Starr was found dead in Utah Tuesday afternoon, at a home in Salt Lake City, and details are limited. According to TMZ, SLC police responded to a distress call mid-afternoon Tuesday to find Starr’s lifeless body. One longtime fan of Alice In Chains, Casey from Tucson, told TCHE he was “beyond heartbroken” for Starr’s family, friends and former bandmates. “This is really just terrible news,” he said.

Mike Starr was recently arrested for illegally possessing prescription medications, and was once on “Celebrity Rehab” to address admitted drug addictions problems. For local information on dealing with drug or alcohol addiction in Tucson, visit the Sierra Tucson web site here.

Mike Starr of Alice In Chains Found Dead In Utah Home

The death of bassist Mike Starr comes as especially sad news to Alice In Chains fans, as the iconic rock band’s frontman, Layne Staley, died in 2002 from a drug overdose. For the rock music and metal community in general, the recent loss of several musicians is still far too fresh. Slipknot bassist Paul Gray died in 2010 (also in Utah), and Pantera and Damageplan legend Dimebag Darrell was shot and killed by a crazed fan as he performed onstage in 2004.

Mike Starr, dead from unknown causes at the young age of 44, will be sadly missed. Starr’s father told TMZ, “It’s a terrible shock and tragedy.”